Combination container and spreader package for particulate material

ABSTRACT

A unit package including a shipping, display and storage container for particulate material, and one or more enclosed housings, at one or both vertical ends of the package, containing the components of a mechanical spreader. Each housing includes a removable portion detachable to expose the spreader elements and provide access thereto. Detachment of the removable portion from the lower housing exposes an opening through which particulate material may be expelled from the lower housing by the spreader element. In use, the package is carried by a strap slung around the neck of a person who manually operates the mechanical spreader.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Christian Albert Huette Falrbury, Ill. [211 App! No 838,536 [22] Filed July 2, 1969 [45] Patented July 13,1971 [73] Assignee l-Ioneggers & Co., Inc.

Fairbury, Ill.

[54] COMBINATION CONTAINER AND SPREADER PACKAGE FOR PARTICULATE MATERIAL 14 Claims, 11 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 222/410, 222/239, 239/686 [51] Int.Cl G0ll'l1/20 [50] Field 01 Search 222/410, 239; 239/686, 309

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 480,146 8/1892 Souder 222/239 486,388 11/1892 Strong 239/686 X 502,604 8/1893 Bol1inger.. 239/686 X Primary Examiner-Richarcl A. Schacher Assistant Examiner-Thomas C. Culp, Jr. Attorney-Merriam, Marshall, Shapiro & Klose ABSTRACT: A unit package including a shipping, display and storage container for particulate material, and one or more enclosed housings, at one or both vertical ends of the package, containing the components of a mechanical spreader. Each housing includes a removable portion detachable to expose the spreader elements and provide access thereto. Detachment of the removable portion from the lower housing exposes an opening through which particulate material may be expelled from the lower housing by the spreader element, In use, the package is carried by a strap slung around the neck of a person who manually operates the mechanical spreader.

PATENTEU JUL 1 3 497:

SHEET 3 BF 3 COMBINATION CONTAINER AND SPREADER PACKAGE FOR PARTICULATE MATERIAL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to manually operated spreaders for particulate material such as fertilizer or grass seed.

Conventionally, this kind of particulate material has been distributed on a surface, such as a lawn, using wheeled, hopper-type spreaders. These spreaders are relatively expensive, are heavy and bulky and thus difficult to transport between sites, and require frequent and meticulous cleaning.

The particulate material for use with these conventional spreaders must be purchased separately, in a discrete container from which a portion of the particulate material must be manually transferred to the spreader.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The drawbacks described above, inherent in conventional spreaders, are eliminated with a combination container and spreader package in accordance with the present invention.

A user buys one package comprising both a container and a spreader for the particulate material which is already inside the package and does not require manual transfer from container to spreader. As purchased, the package resembles a closed box; and this is the condition in which the package was shipped and displayed. To use, one or more removable portions are detached from the package exposing, at the bottom of the package, a rotatable spreader element and an opening through which particulate material is expelled by the spreader element. The spreader element is rotated by a rod and handle enclosed within the package and exposed upon detachment of one of the removable package portions.

The package is relatively light. It can be handily carried by a person for spreading the material, and the combination container and spreader is readily portable between sites.

Preferably, the package is composed of relatively inexpensive material such as corrugated paper, rendering the package disposable when all the particulate material has been spread. Cleaning and maintenance are eliminated. The disposable combination container and spreader package, with material to be spread, costs only a relatively insubstantial amount more than a conventional package containing the same amount of material.

Other features and advantages are inherent in the structure claimed and disclosed or will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description and accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a perspective view, partially cut away, showing an embodiment of a combination container and spreader package constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 illustrating the combination container and spreader as it appears when in operation;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 in FIG. 2 and illustrating a step in the assembly of the combination container and spreader;

FIG. Sis a perspective view, similar to FIG. 2', and illustrating another embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the embodiment of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view illustrating a further embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line 8-8 in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a front view, partially cutaway and partially in section, of still another embodiment of the invention with the combination container and spreader package shown as it appears when purchased;

FIG. 10 is a front view of the embodiment of FIG. 9 with the combination container and spreader assembled in an operative condition; and

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the em bodiment of FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring initially to FIGS. 1-4, there is indicated generally at 20 in FIG. 1 an embodiment of a combination container and spreader package for particulate material constructed in accordance with the present invention. Package 20 comprises wall means 21 connected to a bottom portion 22 having an irremovable part 23 integral with wall means 21 and a removable part 24 detachably connected by scored lines 25 to irremovable bottom part 23 and to wall means 21. Located above wall means 21 and detachably connected thereto by scored line 27 is a removable upper portion 26.

Irremovable bottom part 23 includes a floor 30, a backwall 31, and a pair of sidewalls 32, 32. Removable bottom part 24 includes floor 33, a front wall 34 and a pair of sidewalls 35, 35.

Located above the floor of bottom portion 22 and within wall means 21 is lower bulkhead means having a deck 41 and a pair of supporting portions 42, 42 each depending from a respective opposite edge of deck 41 and resting on the floor 30 of irremovable bottom part 23. Depending bulkhead portions 42 are substantially coextensive with floor 30 of irremovable bottom part 23 and terminate at floor 33" of the removable bottom part.

Located above lower bulkhead means 40 is cover means 45 comprising a lid portion 46 and a plurality of depending portions 47, 47 each extending downwardly from lid portion 46 and comprising means engaging an inner surface of wall means 21 to maintain lid portion 46 in a relatively fixed position above lower bulkhead means 40.

Lower bulkhead means 40 and wall means 21 define a container for holding particulate material 36.

Package bottom portion 22 and lower bulkhead means 40 define a lower package space 50 for housing a spreader element 51 having a plurality of vanes 52 and a hub 53 for receiving the lower end of a vertical rod 54 having an upper end extending through lid portion 46 of cover means 45 and terminating at a handle 55 located in an upper space 56 defined by removable upper package portion 26 and lid portion 46.

Rod 54 is mounted for rotation in lower bearing means located at 58 on deck 41 and in upper bearing means located at 59 on lid portion 46. I

Deck 41 has an opening 60 for releasing particulate material 36 from the container into lower space 50. Opening 60is normally closed by a closure member 62 located atop deck 41 and mounted for slidable movement through a slit 63 in wall means 21. Located outside of wall means 21 is a closure member handle 64 which may be grasped to slide closure member 62between open and closed positions.

Assembly of package 20 starts with an open box defined by bottom portion 22, wall means 21 and upper portion 26, all attached together, with the top 48 of upper portion 26 composed of four conventional flaps, all opened. Spreader element 51 is placed on the floor of bottom portion 22, and lower bulkhead means 40 is then assembled in place with depending portions 42 resting on floor 30 ofirremovable bottom part 24. A strap 75, the purpose of which will be explained subsequently, may be placed in lower space 50 before lower bulkhead means 40 is assembled in place.

Closure member 62 is inserted through slot 63 to cover opening 60 in deck 41 after lower bulkhead means 40 is assembled in place.

The container, defined by bulkhead deck 41 and wall means 21, is then filled with particulate material 36 to a desired height below the bottom of removable upper portion 26. Cover means 45 is then assembled in place, as shown in FIG. 3. Next, rod 54 is inserted through the opening of bearing means 59 in lid portion 46 of the cover means, and the rod is pushed downwardly into particulate material 36. Rod 54 is guided toward lower bearing means 58 in deck 41 by guide means 70 mounted on deck 41 and preassembled as part of lower bulkhead means 40 before the latter is placed in the package.

Guide means 70 includes a funnel-shaped portion 71 and a peripheral support portion 72. Located at the bottom of funnel-shaped portion 71 is bearing means 58 which is sealed by a puncturable film 73.

As downwardly urged rod 54 is guided by the funnel-shaped portion 71 of guide means 70 toward lower bearing means 58, downward movement of rod 54 is stopped when the bottom of the rod strikes film 73 in bearing means 58. When this occurs, the handle ofrod 55 is located in upper space 56 defined by lid portion 46 of cover means 45 and by removable upper package portion 26. Top 48 of upper portion 26 is then closed by folding the four flaps thereof into a closed position, in a conventional manner, and sealing the flaps shut. In this condition the package may be shipped and displayed.

When a consumer is ready to use the package, he detaches removable upper portion 26 by tearing along scored lines 27 and detaches the removable part 24 of bottom portion 22 by tearing along scored lines 25.

Detachment of upper portion 26 exposes rod handle 55 and detachment of removable bottom part 24 exposes spreader element 51. The lower part of rod 54 can be positioned for engagement with hub 53 of spreader element 51 by hitting downwardly on rod handle 55 causing the rod to puncture film 73 in bearing means 58 and to move downwardly through bearing means 58 into lower space 50. Spreader element hub 53 can be readily manually aligned with the lower part of rod 54 because both are now visible and accessible in lower space 50.

Strap 75 is removed from lower space 50 and placed around the package as illustrated in FIG. 2 and then slung around the neck of a person who, in this manner, carries the package in front of him as he walks across the surface on which the particulate material is to be spread.

To spread particulate material 36, closure member 62 is opened by pulling handle 64 outwardly a desired amount. The

size of the opening resulting from pulling outwardly on handle 64 controls the rate at which particulate material 36 descends from the container located above lower bulkhead means 40 into lower space 50.

Removable bottom part 24, upon detachment from the package, exposes an opening in lower housing 50. Material is spread by turning handle 55 which rotates spreader element 51 which expels material from lower space 50. lrremovable bottom part 23 comprises means for confining the expulsion of particulate material from lower space 50 to the opening exposed by detachment of the removable part. This protects the person who is carrying the package from having material projected against him as he walks and spreads the material.

FIGS. 5, 6 and 11 illustrate a second embodiment 80 of a package in accordance with the present invention.

Embodiment 80 differs from embodiment 20 illustrated in FIGS. 1-4 in that embodiment 80 does not have a removable upper portion and comprises cover means 85 integral with wall means 21. Cover means 85 comprises four foldable flaps 86-89 which can be closed, in a conventional manner, after package 80 has been filled with particulate material, to seal the package.

Embodiment 80 also differs from embodiment 20 in that not only spreader element 51 and strap 75. but also rod 54 is stored in lower space 50 (FIG. 11).

When package 80 is initially assembled, spreader element 51. rod 54 and strap 75 are placed on the floor ofthe package, and lower bulkhead means 40 is assembled in place above the rod, spreader element and strap. Then particulate material 36 is introduced into the container to the desired level following which the flaps of cover means 85 are closed and sealed.

house a rod of this length.

When a consumer desires to use the package. he detaches the removable bottom part, thus providing access to rod 54, strap 75 and spreader element 51 in lower space 50. The strap and rod are removed, and rod 54 is pushed through the intersection of the four flaps 84-89 of cover means 85. Located at this intersection is upper bearing means for rod 54. Rod 54 is pushed downwardly until it engages guide means 70 (FIG. 11) which directs rod 54 to lower bearing means 58 at the bottom of the-guide means. Rod 54 is then pushed through the puncturable film 73 which seals the opening in lower bearing means 58. Thereafter, the bottom of rod 54 is engaged with the hub of spreader element 51 in the same manner as in embodiment 20 of FIGS. 1-4.

In a third embodiment 100, illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, spreader element 51 is connected to a gear reducer 101 mounted on a frame 102 attached to lower bulkhead means 40. ln this embodiment, rod 54 may either be stored in lower space 50 or it may be preassembled through the top of the package, as in the manner of embodiment 20 in FIGS. 1-4. Either way, rod 54 is directed by guide means 70 into engagement with gear reducer 101 rather than into position for engagement with the hub of spreader element 51, as in the first two embodiments 20, 80.

Except for the differences described in the preceding paragraph, embodiment may be the same as either embodiment 20 of FIGS. l-4 or embodiment 80 of FIGS. 5, 6 and Embodiment 110, illustrated in F168. 9 and 10, .utilizes a relatively short rod 114 having a length substantially less than the vertical dimension of wall means 21. Rod 114 is stored in lower space 50 and is removable therefrom upon detachment of the removable part of the bottom portion. Rod 114 is engaged with the hub of a spreader element 115 by pushing rod 114 through a prepunched or puncturable opening 116 in floor 30 ofirremovable bottom part 23.

Embodiment includes cover means 85 integral with wall means 2l,just as in embodiment 80 of FIGS. 5, 6 and 11.

Advantages of embodiment 110 include elimination of guide means 70 on the lower bulkhead means and an upper cover means 85 which is never opened or punctured. Assembly or rod 114 and spreader element 115 is easier than in other embodiments because there is no requirement for blind guiding of the rod before it enters lower space 50, as is necessary when the rod enters the lower space from above.

For the most part, the package is preferably composed ofinexpensive material such as corrugated paper, with guide means 70 being plastic and the rods being steel. This makes the package conveniently and acceptably disposable after all the particulate material has been spread.

What I claim is:

1. A combination container and spreader package for particulate material, said combination comprising:

wall means;

a bottom portion including a floor and having a first part irremovably attached to said wall means and a stationary second part removably attached to said first part and to said wall means to provide an opening in said bottom portion when the stationary second part is removed;

and bulkhead means located above the floor of said bottom portion and within said wall means;

said bulkhead means and said wall means defining a container for holding said particulate material;

said bulkhead means and said bottom portion defining an enclosed lower space for housing a spreader element.

2. A combination as recited in claim 1 wherein said bulkhead means comprises:

a deck portion;

and means for supporting said deck portion on the floor of the irremovable part of said bottom portion of the package.

3. A combination as recited in claim 1 and comprising: cover means located above said bulkhead means and comprising a container lid.

4. A combination as recited in claim 3 and comprising:

first bearing means, on said cover means, for rotatably mounting a vertically disposed rod;

and second bearing means, on said bulkhead means and axially aligned with said first bearing means, for rotatably mounting said rod.

5. A combination as recited in claim 4 and comprising:

guide means having walls diverging upwardly from said bulkhead means for directing a downwardly moving rod toward said second bearing means.

6. A combination as recited in claim 5 and comprising puncturable means on the second bearing means for sealing the opening in said second bearing means.

7, A combination as recited in claim 4 and comprising:

an upper portion, for said package, removably attached to said wall means and having a package top located above said cover means;

a vertically extending rod rotatably mounted in said first and second bearing means;

a handle on said rod;

said handle being located above said cover means;

said removable upper portion of said package and said cover means defining an enclosed upper space for housing said handle.

8. A combination as recited in claim 4 wherein:

said lower space includes room for housing a rod having a length greater than the axial distance between said first and second bearing means.

9. A combination as recited in claim 3 wherein said cover means comprises:

a lid portion;

and means depending from said lid portion for engaging an inner surface of said wall means to maintain said lid portion in a relatively fixed position above the bulkhead means.

A combination as recited in claim 1 and comprising:

an opening, in said bulkhead means, for releasing particulate material into said lower space;

a closure member for said opening;

means, including a slit in said wall means, mounting said closure member for slidable movement relative to said opening independent of movement by the spreader element;

and a handle connected to said closure member and located outside said wall means.

11. A combination as recited in claim 1 wherein said package comprises:

means operable to permit passage of particulate material from said container to said lower housing;

said removable part of the bottom portion exposing an opening in said lower housing upon detachment from the package;

said irremovable part of the bottom portion comprising means for confining the expulsion of particulate material from said housing to the opening exposed by detachment of the removable part,

12. A combination as recited in claim 11 wherein:

said irremovable part of the bottom portion comprises a pair of sidewalls and a backwall integral with the wall means of the package and a floor integral with said sidewalls and backwall;

and said removable part of the bottom portion comprises a floor, a pair of sidewalls and a front wall connected to said irremovable bottom portion and to said wall means along scored lines.

13. A combination as recited in claim 1 and comprising:

an upper portion, for said package, removably attached to said wall means along scored lines to facilitate removal by tearing;

the removable part of said bottom portion of the package being attached to said wall means and to said irremovable part along scored lines to facilitate removal by tearing. 14. A combination as recited in claim 1 and comprising:

rod means for engaging said spreader element through an opening in the floor of said irremovable part of the bottom portion;

said rod means having a length substantially less than the vertical dimension of said wall means. 

1. A combination container and spreader package for particulate material, said combination comprising: wall meAns; a bottom portion including a floor and having a first part irremovably attached to said wall means and a stationary second part removably attached to said first part and to said wall means to provide an opening in said bottom portion when the stationary second part is removed; and bulkhead means located above the floor of said bottom portion and within said wall means; said bulkhead means and said wall means defining a container for holding said particulate material; said bulkhead means and said bottom portion defining an enclosed lower space for housing a spreader element.
 2. A combination as recited in claim 1 wherein said bulkhead means comprises: a deck portion; and means for supporting said deck portion on the floor of the irremovable part of said bottom portion of the package.
 3. A combination as recited in claim 1 and comprising: cover means located above said bulkhead means and comprising a container lid.
 4. A combination as recited in claim 3 and comprising: first bearing means, on said cover means, for rotatably mounting a vertically disposed rod; and second bearing means, on said bulkhead means and axially aligned with said first bearing means, for rotatably mounting said rod.
 5. A combination as recited in claim 4 and comprising: guide means having walls diverging upwardly from said bulkhead means for directing a downwardly moving rod toward said second bearing means.
 6. A combination as recited in claim 5 and comprising puncturable means on the second bearing means for sealing the opening in said second bearing means.
 7. A combination as recited in claim 4 and comprising: an upper portion, for said package, removably attached to said wall means and having a package top located above said cover means; a vertically extending rod rotatably mounted in said first and second bearing means; a handle on said rod; said handle being located above said cover means; said removable upper portion of said package and said cover means defining an enclosed upper space for housing said handle.
 8. A combination as recited in claim 4 wherein: said lower space includes room for housing a rod having a length greater than the axial distance between said first and second bearing means.
 9. A combination as recited in claim 3 wherein said cover means comprises: a lid portion; and means depending from said lid portion for engaging an inner surface of said wall means to maintain said lid portion in a relatively fixed position above the bulkhead means. 10 A combination as recited in claim 1 and comprising: an opening, in said bulkhead means, for releasing particulate material into said lower space; a closure member for said opening; means, including a slit in said wall means, mounting said closure member for slidable movement relative to said opening independent of movement by the spreader element; and a handle connected to said closure member and located outside said wall means.
 11. A combination as recited in claim 1 wherein said package comprises: means operable to permit passage of particulate material from said container to said lower housing; said removable part of the bottom portion exposing an opening in said lower housing upon detachment from the package; said irremovable part of the bottom portion comprising means for confining the expulsion of particulate material from said housing to the opening exposed by detachment of the removable part.
 12. A combination as recited in claim 11 wherein: said irremovable part of the bottom portion comprises a pair of sidewalls and a backwall integral with the wall means of the package and a floor integral with said sidewalls and backwall; and said removable part of the bottom portion comprises a floor, a pair of sidewalls and a front wall connected to said irremovable bottom portion and to said wall means along scored lines.
 13. A combination as recited in claim 1 and comPrising: an upper portion, for said package, removably attached to said wall means along scored lines to facilitate removal by tearing; the removable part of said bottom portion of the package being attached to said wall means and to said irremovable part along scored lines to facilitate removal by tearing.
 14. A combination as recited in claim 1 and comprising: rod means for engaging said spreader element through an opening in the floor of said irremovable part of the bottom portion; said rod means having a length substantially less than the vertical dimension of said wall means. 